To think that lockdown is not the time to get a pet

[BeyondMymymymyCorona]

"as I'm home for the next however long, I decided it was a good time to get a puppy"

This is a friend of mine, and I've seen multiple others who have decided now is the time to get a smaller cage/viv-living pet.

The one who just got the puppy is in the shielding group, so not supposed to leave the house at all. How they plan on walking it, I have no idea. Nor how they plan to feed it given they have had so much trouble getting food for themselves.

I realise the animals have to go somewhere if nobody buys them, so I don't know what the answer is. But AIBU to think that - on a household level - now is a bad time to get a new pet?

As a vet nurse I can assure you it is a terrible time to get a puppy. As pp said we are not allowed to vaccinate at present for a start and lots of unvaccinated puppies will mean a huge rise in infectious disease amongst dogs, some of which are harmful to humans. Lots of vets aren't dispensing flea/work/tick treatment either as many practices are down to skeleton staff and we have to prioritize important prescriptions so again a risk to human health (Lyme's disease etc). We are actually advising against walking dogs anywhere you dog might pick up ticks at the moment, in the interest of human health. Add in missing a vital socialisation period and many people will end up with dogs with behavioural issues which they will then no doubt dump. Basic health care and preventative health care is not available for pets at the moment, emergencies only.

So what happens to the dogs at the breeders that are unable to be homes?

But you're assuming these people are not going to look after their animals because they will go back to work?

I judge anyone who gets a pet just because they're home and bored. It took us a year to decide to put our name down for a dog - they're a lifestyle change, not something you do because you're bored.

Daycare, walkers, food, insurance - none of it's cheap. If people truly wanted a dog they'd have researched it before hand.

Interesting synchronistic thread given the discussion I had with my DP this afternoon....

So we are currently without cat - we were looking after my DS and GF's cat while their flat was being re-furbed where they live over a pub - said cat was extracted just prior to lockdown, but we both miss her, and DP was already coming round to the idea of getting a couple of kittens ourselves after resisting for a while because he was so upset after our last familiar was sadly run over.

Today he has suggested we actively get a cat...... I immediately said no due to the rulez and the gubmint and I couldn't see it being remotely possible.

He was so disappointed I was really surprised, I'm usually the petulant whinger in such matters. The compromise we have reached is that if anyone we know, local and with all the gear urgently needs to re-home a cat, we will offer and take every precaution possible - I'm talking if it was an us or euthanising territory choice, nothing less. And he has been placated and we are allowing the universe to decide. I think that's fair (and unlikely enough to keep us within the law).

YABU it’s a great time for us to get a dog and we are collecting him tomorrow.

We have wanted a dog for ages but we wouldn’t feel happy getting one and only having two weeks to settle it before going back to work. Now we have at least a month to train in and settle a puppy. Then when we got back to work we will still have our full annual leave to take a further two weeks later on to spend with the dog.

So what happens to the dogs at the breeders that are unable to be homes?

I am a supporter of responsible breeding and this is one of my major, major issues with most breeders.

Any decent breeder will insist on their dogs being returned to them if the owner can no longer cope.

If you do not have the room or money or ability to keep back an unsold litter or take back adult dogs you have bred you should not be breeding.

I'm not sure about dogs unless you have a decent sized garden then OK but a cat or a small pet is fine. They need you at home while you settle in and it can detract from the whole mess that this is. But don't let your cat out until neutered obvy.

“These dogs you speak of already exist and the problems you lost also could happen regardless.”

Well no, a lack of socialisation doesn’t just happen.

I’ve had a dog that missed months of socialisation because of a medical issue, I had to spend the rest of his life only taking him out in public muzzled and on lead, keeping him away from other dogs and locking him away from visitors in my house.

Honestly, it’s a lot of work and not really practical with children...

I think it’s the perfect time to get a pet used to your house.
Why should animals wallow in shelters? Or breeders (who couldn’t predict corona virus) have puppies/kittens annoying their mum?
If the rehoming can be done relatively safely with precaution then why not?
Im involved in animal rescue so maybe I’m looking at it from the POV of perfectly good homes. People that will get a pet irresponsibly will get one whether it’s during corona virus or not.

If people truly wanted a dog they'd have researched it before hand.
But you don't know that people didn't? When you're chatting to people sometimes you go into detail 'so I've been looking at rescue sites a while and we finally found a match' but you also might say 'we've decided to get a pet!' excitedly and launch into what you'd like. The second doesn't mean you didn't spend forever looking up websites, researching etc. Yes there are idiots that get pets, but everyone who says they're disgusted at people getting one now assume 100% of people going now never ever considered any of the semantics. As for pets not being well socialised etc, yes, some pets are going to come out of this thing badly just as humans a re unfortunately. It's a sad time all round.

Depends if you're in a vulnerable group that should be self isolating?
It is a good time to socialise a puppy or other animal - but I sincerely hope that people acquiring puppies have thought about and planned for what happens when they go back to work.

A puppy is not just for lockdown.

Josie congratulations and best of luck!

It's actually the perfect time to get a pet, especially a dog (from the animals' welfare perspective). Too many people get one when they are working full time without waiting til they have annual leave. And once they get one take it everywhere before it has time to settle into their new family. Dogs need weeks to adjust to their new home before getting taken to new environments and letting people outside the household meeting them. Socialisation is the most misunderstood concept in dog training IMO.
At least now there is plenty of time to let an animal adjust to their new home.

Taking him out in public muzzled ..... not really practical with children...

You do miss bits when you speed read, images of muzzled children on leas amused me.

Thanks @stayathomer

I think it’s the perfect time to get a pet used to your house
If we are talking about dogs, they are social animals who don’t cope well with isolation at the best of times.
Getting a pup and having it used to your 24/7 company for what looks likely to be at least three, if not more months then trying to get it used to separation when you need to return to work is unlikely to go well...

Why should animals wallow in shelters?
I don’t agree with traditional ‘shelters’.
It’s utter abuse.
Should be foster or PTS in my opinion.

Or breeders (who couldn’t predict corona virus) have puppies/kittens annoying their mum?
If you are unable to keep back an unsold litter you have no business breeding.

If the rehoming can be done relatively safely with precaution then why not?
I don’t think it can be.
It’s not an essential journey for a start.
No reputable breeder would sell an animal without meeting and talking to the prospective owner and that also isn’t allowed.
If we are talking about dogs, the lack of socialisation and shock and trauma of the circumstances changing from 24/7 company to what could be 9 - 5 alone everyday is likely to lead to significant behavioural problems which is cruel for the animal and hard for owners to cope with.
I wonder how many of these people who bought a puppy now would stand by that puppy if it developed aggression for example as a result of poor socialisation?
How many would keep a dog that barked and howled all day long and destroys the house in response to stress at being left?
I suspect not many.

Give it three months after things are back to some sort of normal and everyone returns to work/school - the rescues will be overrun from these terrible decisions.

Genuinely think it depends on the kind of pet: a puppy/dog that will require the same amount of care when they go back to work then yes, you are right. A kitten or a cat who are high maintenance at the beginning but will become more independent, honestly this is the perfect time for that.

I'm actually getting a kitten in two weeks but I had already planned this prior CV. Was worried about only getting one as I've always had cats in pairs so they settle in easier and you can go back to work without worrying they are lonely. So the isolation actually works out well.. (though I still wish it wasn't happening obviously)

How many would keep a dog that barked and howled all day long and destroys the house in response to stress at being left?

They would have no business having a pet then. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean the dog can’t be kindly introduced to quiet time in a crate or another room. Too many people get a dog on a Saturday and skip off to work on a Monday. So no - I disagree there.
Like I said - people who are irresponsible would get one whether amidst Coronavirus or not.

Also your point about not being able to hold back a litter - no one can realistically hold back a litter of 12 or more and give them the proper socialising and training they need. Once they’re out of their peak socialising period you’re just asking for them to develop an inability to socialise with anyone other than you.

I do agree on the non essential travel aspect. I’m not sure what the solution on that front is.

Socialisation wise actually doing things from a distance can be a very positive experience for the puppy. Walking past a dog or human without interaction can be more beneficial than actually allowing the puppy to interact as the puppy will learn to focus on the handler and also have no bad experiences as it’s just walking past whatever it is your socialising with.
Lots of behaviour modification is based on training from a distance. Personally I prefer my dogs to be indifferent to humans and politely stand and ignore while I chat than pester for attention or be fearful due to meeting someone anti dog and having a negative experience. Same goes for dogs, I find it better to have dog neutral dogs than dogs that are bouncing up to play with everything as lots of the apparently well socialised dogs I see do. Personally I don’t agree with my dogs playing with strange dogs for a variety of reasons and taught them as puppies to look and then refocus on me. I do have two so mine get to socialise together but that’s about it.

So IMO socialisation wouldn’t be a complete disaster.

Being at home would also be positive for dogs being left alone and separation anxiety. Correctly training dogs to be left alone comfortable takes time, leaving for 5mins and building it up so there’s no fear or panic involved. To buy a puppy and leave it while you go to work is not the right way to produce a well adjusted dog. I always prefer to have the first month or so to set all this groundwork in place and being off would be the perfect time, leaving them in another room for a few moments and then building the dogs confidence up gradually rather than buying it and leaving it straight away.

However, the reason I would advice against a puppy now would be the vaccination and veterinary treatment issue. Things like getting used to traffic etc would be almost impossible in a large breed once past a certain age and I wouldn’t to put a puppy down without at least the first and second of the course. Oh and the obvious issue that we shouldn’t be travelling or meeting anyone so how would you view the parents etc.

Having a pet to focus on at this time might be a life saver, quite literally, for some people. If it can be obtained safely, along with all the supplies, and they can still care for it when things are back to normal then it could be a positive thing. In the case of a puppy, you can’t take it out anyway for the first few weeks and it would give you the chance to cement training before having to get back to work and the usual routines.

@supadupapupascupa I really feel for you in your position, we've had our dog nearly 3 years and I would of been so upset if we couldn't pick him up when we were expecting too. I think if you genuinely see this dog as part of your family then the best thing to do is wait until it's safe to do so. It really is cruel for your dog to have the whole family at home for months on end and then when things go back to normal he/she is then left on their own for a good portion of the day (assuming you go back to work, kids back at school) it creates such anxiety for the dogs you may find yourself in a horrible situation from a badly stressed dog. On top of this the socialising is so important for young pups, if they don't get the opportunity to learn 'doggy etiquette' from other dogs you could again find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation further down the line.
I really do sympathise with your situation but leaving him with his mum and litter mates will help his socialising in a way that you will not be able to fulfil, really is the best thing you can do for them and you

Thank you, I know it makes sense. She will be coming to work with me (assuming I have work to go back to) and only 10 hrs per week anyway. So that's not a concern. I have an autistic child who really needs this dog. But whatever is best for everyone will be. We are responsible people.

“Lots of behaviour modification is based on training from a distance.“

Yep... but you’re looking at carrying it, potentially for 6 months and for periods of only being able to take it out once.., or if we go into full lockdown if it’s like other countries only 50m from your house.

@supadupapupascupa I think you are the only person that can make that call. I can completely understand your reasoning, and I for one certainly wouldn't judge if you decided to get him/her. Pp above makes some good points re socialising from a distance.